💡 Look, think and find the rule!

★ NUMBER PATTERNS ★

💡 Find the rule, continue the pattern and have fun!
A pattern is a rule. Numbers follow the rule in a certain order.
1. WHAT IS A NUMBER PATTERN?

A number pattern is a series of numbers that follow a rule.

Example:

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ... +2 +2 +2 +2
Rule: Add 2 each time.
This is a pattern.
2. COMMON NUMBER PATTERNS

a) Counting by 1s    Rule: Add 1 each time.

Example:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, ... +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1

b) Counting by 2s    Rule: Add 2 each time.

Example:

2, 4, 6,8, 10, 12, 14, ... +2 +2 +2 +2 +2

c) Counting by 5s    Rule: Add 5 each time.

Example:

5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, ... +5 +5 +5 +5 +5

d) Counting by 10s    Rule: Add 10 each time.

Example:

10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ... +10 +10 +10 +10 +10
3. HOW TO FIND A PATTERN?
  1. Look at the numbers carefully.
  2. Find the difference between one number and the next.
  3. See if the same difference is added or subtracted.
  4. Write the rule.

Example:

3, 7, 11, 15, 19, ... +4 +4 +4 +4

Rule: Add 4 each time.

Next number: 19 + 4 = 23

4. INCREASING AND DECREASING PATTERNS

a) Increasing Pattern (numbers get bigger)

Example:

4, 7, 10, 13, 16, ... +3 +3 +3 +3

Rule: Add 3 each time.

b) Decreasing Pattern (numbers get smaller)

Example:

50, 45, 40, 35, 30, ... -5 -5 -5 -5

Rule: Subtract 5 each time.

5. MORE EXAMPLES
Pattern Rule Next Three Numbers
1, 3, 5, 7, ... Add 2 9, 11, 13
2, 6, 10, 14, ... Add 4 18, 22, 26
5, 10, 15, 20, ... Add 5 25, 30, 35
100, 90, 80, 70, ... Subtract 10 60, 50, 40
3, 9, 27, 81, ... × 3 (multiply by 3) 243, 729, 2187
1, 4, 9, 16, ... Square numbers
(1², 2², 3², 4², ...)		 25 (5²), 36 (6²), 49 (7²)
7. PRACTICE TIME!

A. Continue the pattern.

  1. 2, 5, 8, 11, ____, ____, ____
  2. 3, 6, 9, 12, ____, ____, ____
  3. 10, 20, 30, 40, ____, ____, ____
  4. 50, 45, 40, 35, ____, ____, ____

B. Find the rule and write the next number.

  1. 7, 14, 21, 28, ____ (Rule: ________)
  2. 5, 10, 15, 20, ____ (Rule: ________)
  3. 100, 90, 80, 70, ____ (Rule: ________)

C. What is the rule?

  1. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, ... Rule: ________
  2. 6, 12, 18, 24, ... Rule: ________
  3. 9, 18, 36, 72, ... Rule: ________
QUICK REMINDERS
  • ★ A pattern follows a rule.
  • ★ The rule can be add, subtract, multiply or more.
  • ★ Look for the difference or the operation.
  • ★ Use the rule to find the next numbers.
  • ★ Practice makes you a pattern expert!